About Michael Franzese
From the inner circle of one of the most powerful crime families in American history to a life of faith, family, and purpose. This is the story they said could never be told — because the man who lived it was never supposed to survive.
Born into one of New York's most violent and feared Colombo crime families. It was like a rite of passage to become part of the criminal underworld, or as we used to call it "the family business." The truth is, I was good at it. Really good.
By my mid-twenties I had risen through the ranks with a speed that made veterans nervous and rivals afraid. I wasn't just another soldier — I had an instinct for the game that set me apart from day one.
"At my most affluent, I was generating between $5,000,000 to $8,000,000 per week from both legal and illegal business."
In 1986 I was named one of the biggest money earners the mob had seen since Al Capone by Vanity Fair. At 35, Fortune Magazine listed me as #18 on the list of "50 Most Wealthy and Powerful Mafia Bosses" — just 5 behind John Gotti.
The money was staggering. The power was intoxicating. And the respect that came with it — in that world, respect is everything — made me feel invincible.
Where most would use force, intimidation, and violence to get ahead… I used something 100x more powerful: My Mind, My Instinct, My Hustle.
From auto dealerships and union kickbacks, to financial services and a multi-billion dollar gasoline tax scheme, I made earning millions a weekly habit. I built an empire not with fists, but with strategy — and that's what made me the most dangerous man in every room I walked into.
I quickly became the target of Manhattan's famed federal prosecutor, Rudy Giuliani. He came after me with racketeering charges, threatening me with 100 years behind bars. I evaded him. He tried four more indictments and still failed.
The full weight of the federal government was bearing down on me. They wanted to make an example. But I wasn't built to break — not then, and not now.
While producing a breakdancing movie in Florida, I met a beautiful dancer named Camille Garcia. Her innocent beauty and faith were more powerful than any force I'd ever experienced. I fell deeply in love and eventually married Cammy.
For the first time in my life, I saw a future that didn't end in a prison cell or a coffin. She showed me that another life was possible — and that love could be stronger than loyalty to the mob.
"I was the first high-ranking official member of a major crime family to walk away, without protective custody, and survive."
I didn't flee. If I was going to walk away from one world, I was determined to walk into another with something to offer. My life in the mob had given me a set of skills like no other — communication, persuasion, strategy — that could translate to the legitimate world.
I didn't enter witness protection. I didn't rat. I simply walked away — looked some of the most dangerous men in America in the eye and told them I was done. They said I'd be dead within a year. That was over three decades ago.
The skills that made me one of the most powerful figures in organized crime now serve a greater purpose. Today, I share what I've learned with those who need it most.
Leadership, strategy, and negotiation insights from a man who once ran a multi-billion dollar operation.
Helping athletes protect their wealth, avoid predators, and build a legacy beyond the game.
Steering young people away from the streets with real-world lessons only lived experience can teach.
Sharing a powerful testimony of redemption, faith, and the transformative power of God's grace.
Whether it's a keynote address, a private consultation, or strategic mentorship — Michael brings decades of real-world experience to every engagement.